Updated: Damning report labels Bucks Childrens Services 'Inadequate'

CHILDRENS’ social services in Buckinghamshire have been branded "inadequate" by Ofsted, in a damning report criticising “widespread and serious” failings in the way the county council safeguards vulnerable youngsters.

The report, published today, lists a catalogue of failings across different areas of the children’s services provided by Buckinghamshire County Council.

The authority has been ranked as “inadequate” overall, and also in three key categories - dealing with children who need help and protection; children being looked after and “achieving permanence”; and in leadership, management and governance.

Adoption performance and the experience and progress of care leavers are both areas which require improvement, the report says.

BCC has pledged that it will be working to turn the situation around as quickly as possible, with a new action plan in response to today’s report already being finalised.

The key criticisms raised in the report are as follows:

• Childrens' social care is not in the top two priorities for Buckinghamshire County Council, making it harder to keep standards up and maintain long-term change.

• The report said: “Failures by Buckinghamshire’s safeguarding services are widespread and serious. The result is that children are not being effectively protected. Children and young people do always not receive help when they need it.”

• Despite concerns from elected members about the quality of services delivered by some social work teams, there has been too little analysis of the problems, and improvements have not been made.

• Too many children are at risk of harm, the report goes on to say, with serious failures in assessing and responding to children and young people in need of help and protection.

It said: “At the time of this inspection, a high number of children in need of statutory intervention and protection were without an allocated social worker. As a result, too many of them are at risk of harm. The level of unallocated work is a long-standing problem.”

• Ofsted also raised concerns about the way children in need of help and protection may not be allocated to a social worker and that decisions to close cases without a social worker first seeing and speaking to children “exacerbate risks”.

• The quality of case records were another concern. The repost said: “They do not accurately reflect the child’s experiences and important documents are left blank.”

• Care for some looked after children is not good enough, with managers unaware as to whether statutory visits are completed because information is missing. The report adds that more than half of looked after children a placed outside the county, affecting the speed of services in meeting their needs.

• The report said not all young people leaving care have an up-to-date plan, with the proportion of care leavers not in education, employment or training “significantly higher” than that for young people in Bucks overall.

• The report said: “supervision of social workers is of poor quality and managers’ oversight of practice in many teams is inconsistent.”

• It added that too many managers at all levels were temporary.

• Managers have not taken effective action to address concerns over social work practice when they have been identified, leading the report to state that the system for quality assurance and performance management is “ineffective”.

Despite this list of failures, however, the report also raised some strengths, and said that “very recent caseload reductions in some teams are making a positive difference, with strong feedback from parents and children."

It also found that: “Identification, tracking and risk assessment processes for young people who go missing or are at risk of sexual exploitation are effective.”

Other areas of strength included the out of hours Emergency Duty Team, BCC’s working relationship with the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service, the authority’s development of what would be the country’s third Family Drug and Alcohol Court and the way services have been commissioned to support vulnerable children and their families.

The report also praised the way youth services approached their work, the fact that 11 per cent of care leavers go on to higher education, training procedures for newly qualified social workers and the early stage at which adoption is considered for the benefit of the child.

Responding to the report, Angela Macpherson, Cabinet Member for Children's Services, said: "Whilst OFSTED found many strengths (paras 45 - 55) including the way that social workers had made a real difference to children's lives and the effective processes we have for children who go missing or are at risk of sexual exploitation, our performance in other areas has been unsatisfactory (paras 1 - 11).

“This includes shortcomings in leadership and management, a lack of social work capacity to deal with the increasing volumes of work and weaknesses in procedures and record keeping.

“We recognise many of the conclusions and OFSTED’s report will re-energise the programme of significant changes we began in 2013 to the way we work with children and their families. We had brought in additional help and support, but clearly OFSTED's report shows our pace of improvement has been insufficient and I accept their findings.

“In relation to paragraph 1 of the report, Children's Social Care is integral to two of the eight equal key priorities set out in our Strategic Plan. We will however be reviewing our approach in the light of the OFSTED comments.

“My task now is abundantly clear - we must get back to a 'Good' rating or better as soon as we can. Frankly, anything less is going to be unacceptable to me and the families and children we work with and support. We are already finalising a new action plan in response to today’s report so it’s crystal clear to everyone how and when these improvements will be delivered.

“Let me personally reassure everyone that this Council will turn this around as quickly as we can so that Buckinghamshire, together with its partners get back to providing the very best processes and practices to help, protect and support our children and young people. I will not rest until this has happened."

The whole of the BCC is inadequate for the provision of any service they are entrusted into. The decision makers are really not fit for purpose. Such failings in any other private sector jobs will definitely lead to sackings and resignations...why not in this case.

The whole of the BCC is inadequate for the provision of any service they are entrusted into. The decision makers are really not fit for purpose. Such failings in any other private sector jobs will definitely lead to sackings and resignations...why not in this case.Bartholomew HuckleBerry

The BFP is generally unwilling to criticise BCC, 'our grammar schools', or various assorted other influential local organisations, (remember its coverage of Mr Hayes' 'Community Stadium and Sports Village'?) and it shows how indefensible BCC is on this occasion that the BFP has done so.

The whole educational system in Bucks is massively, massively, complacent and is based on the idea that services for young people and 'education' = grammar schools - everything else - even if it has been attacked by independent observers for its failings - is treated as 'very good' in the words of Mike Appleyard cabinet member for education and training.
(See: http://www.bucksfree
press.co.uk/educatio
n/news/11108724.Prop
osals_to_close_educa
tional_gap_between_r
ich_and_poor/)

Sue Imbriano has said in the past that they can do little to affect children's performance as ' … 80 per cent of factors affecting children's development happen outside school' so it is not surprising she is so complacent about failing poor families and their children. (See: http://www.bucksfree
press.co.uk/news/108
90278.Council_defend
s_grammar_schools_in
_wake_of_Ofsted_chie
f_s_criticism/).

This report is not surprising – the only thing surprising is that Angela Macpherson, has admitted there is any failing in the system – if Mike Appleyard were the cabinet member responsible for children's services then he would spin it to reassure all us stupid people.

I agree with both the last comments, particulalry the second one, and also those at:
http://www.buckshera
ld.co.uk/news/more-n
ews/utterly-inadequa
te-watchdog-savages-
council-over-the-way
-it-deals-with-our-m
ost-vulnerable-child
ren-1-6227122?
The BFP is generally unwilling to criticise BCC, 'our grammar schools', or various assorted other influential local organisations, (remember its coverage of Mr Hayes' 'Community Stadium and Sports Village'?) and it shows how indefensible BCC is on this occasion that the BFP has done so.
The whole educational system in Bucks is massively, massively, complacent and is based on the idea that services for young people and 'education' = grammar schools - everything else - even if it has been attacked by independent observers for its failings - is treated as 'very good' in the words of Mike Appleyard cabinet member for education and training.
(See: http://www.bucksfree
press.co.uk/educatio
n/news/11108724.Prop
osals_to_close_educa
tional_gap_between_r
ich_and_poor/)
Sue Imbriano has said in the past that they can do little to affect children's performance as ' … 80 per cent of factors affecting children's development happen outside school' so it is not surprising she is so complacent about failing poor families and their children. (See: http://www.bucksfree
press.co.uk/news/108
90278.Council_defend
s_grammar_schools_in
_wake_of_Ofsted_chie
f_s_criticism/).
This report is not surprising – the only thing surprising is that Angela Macpherson, has admitted there is any failing in the system – if Mike Appleyard were the cabinet member responsible for children's services then he would spin it to reassure all us stupid people.Undercover Euro Yob

When Mike Appleyard was sacked David Shakespeare in 2001 after Shakespeare split education, giving Councillor Appleyard schools but giving special needs education to children's services the BFP reported that:

‘Cllr Appleyard disagreed with the change and, as a result, is now out of his £16,000 a year job.’
The BFP continued:

‘Cllr Appleyard, 59, was surprised to get the leader's phone call, but said: "I am going to do nothing disloyal. I am a Conservative and that is the top and bottom of it.’

I am inclined to agree with Mike about this and to suspect that this sums up the very most profound depths of his thinking. I would also say it applies to a lot of other people’s attitudes to education in the county.

When Mike Appleyard was sacked David Shakespeare in 2001 after Shakespeare split education, giving Councillor Appleyard schools but giving special needs education to children's services the BFP reported that: [/italic]
‘Cllr Appleyard disagreed with the change and, as a result, is now out of his £16,000 a year job.’ [/italic]
The BFP continued:
[italic]
‘Cllr Appleyard, 59, was surprised to get the leader's phone call, but said: "I am going to do nothing disloyal. I am a Conservative and that is the top and bottom of it.’ [/italic]
I am inclined to agree with Mike about this and to suspect that this sums up the very most profound depths of his thinking. I would also say it applies to a lot of other people’s attitudes to education in the county.
[/italic]
We are basically serfs in a Conservative fiefdom.
(See:
HTTP://WWW.BUCKSFREE
PRESS.CO.UK/ARCHIVE/
2001/06/21/5188934.S
CHOOLS_BOSS_IS_SACKE
D/)Undercover Euro Yob

Let’s be honest. Bucks is Tory Blue, has always been the same. I've tried to push the point across that the whole political system needs changing. Look at the news recently that Boris is deciding to stand as an MP again in a safe Tory seat. Unless you are one of the few people in this Country that live in marginal seats (local or national) you do not hold any power what so ever. I hope that one day people wake up to this. BCC has always been run by the Conservatives.

Let’s be honest. Bucks is Tory Blue, has always been the same. I've tried to push the point across that the whole political system needs changing. Look at the news recently that Boris is deciding to stand as an MP again in a safe Tory seat. Unless you are one of the few people in this Country that live in marginal seats (local or national) you do not hold any power what so ever. I hope that one day people wake up to this. BCC has always been run by the Conservatives.Darren Hayday

This shameful and shaming Report makes it clear that children in Buckinghamshire, one of the most affluent counties in the UK, are simply not safe. The decent thing for the responsible politicians to do would be to resign. Along with the officers who have allowed poor practice to flourish. Children deserve better.

This shameful and shaming Report makes it clear that children in Buckinghamshire, one of the most affluent counties in the UK, are simply not safe. The decent thing for the responsible politicians to do would be to resign. Along with the officers who have allowed poor practice to flourish. Children deserve better.Benedicta

Darren Hayday wrote:
Let’s be honest. Bucks is Tory Blue, has always been the same. I've tried to push the point across that the whole political system needs changing. Look at the news recently that Boris is deciding to stand as an MP again in a safe Tory seat. Unless you are one of the few people in this Country that live in marginal seats (local or national) you do not hold any power what so ever. I hope that one day people wake up to this. BCC has always been run by the Conservatives.

When have you been to a County Council meeting and challenged the underperformance of Children's Services? To be honest?

[quote][p][bold]Darren Hayday[/bold] wrote:
Let’s be honest. Bucks is Tory Blue, has always been the same. I've tried to push the point across that the whole political system needs changing. Look at the news recently that Boris is deciding to stand as an MP again in a safe Tory seat. Unless you are one of the few people in this Country that live in marginal seats (local or national) you do not hold any power what so ever. I hope that one day people wake up to this. BCC has always been run by the Conservatives.[/p][/quote]When have you been to a County Council meeting and challenged the underperformance of Children's Services? To be honest?faircuppa

Darren Hayday wrote:
Let’s be honest. Bucks is Tory Blue, has always been the same. I've tried to push the point across that the whole political system needs changing. Look at the news recently that Boris is deciding to stand as an MP again in a safe Tory seat. Unless you are one of the few people in this Country that live in marginal seats (local or national) you do not hold any power what so ever. I hope that one day people wake up to this. BCC has always been run by the Conservatives.

When have you been to a County Council meeting and challenged the underperformance of Children's Services? To be honest?

I wasn’t aware that there was a problem till this report. How else would I?

It's all very well you putting me on the spot, but why don’t you have the balls to write under your real name instead of hiding under your mother’s skirt?

[quote][p][bold]faircuppa[/bold] wrote:
[quote][p][bold]Darren Hayday[/bold] wrote:
Let’s be honest. Bucks is Tory Blue, has always been the same. I've tried to push the point across that the whole political system needs changing. Look at the news recently that Boris is deciding to stand as an MP again in a safe Tory seat. Unless you are one of the few people in this Country that live in marginal seats (local or national) you do not hold any power what so ever. I hope that one day people wake up to this. BCC has always been run by the Conservatives.[/p][/quote]When have you been to a County Council meeting and challenged the underperformance of Children's Services? To be honest?[/p][/quote]I wasn’t aware that there was a problem till this report. How else would I?
It's all very well you putting me on the spot, but why don’t you have the balls to write under your real name instead of hiding under your mother’s skirt?Darren Hayday

Darren Hayday wrote:
Let’s be honest. Bucks is Tory Blue, has always been the same. I've tried to push the point across that the whole political system needs changing. Look at the news recently that Boris is deciding to stand as an MP again in a safe Tory seat. Unless you are one of the few people in this Country that live in marginal seats (local or national) you do not hold any power what so ever. I hope that one day people wake up to this. BCC has always been run by the Conservatives.

When have you been to a County Council meeting and challenged the underperformance of Children's Services? To be honest?

I wasn’t aware that there was a problem till this report. How else would I?

It's all very well you putting me on the spot, but why don’t you have the balls to write under your real name instead of hiding under your mother’s skirt?

I agree with both of you. It is the job of all of us in Bucks to keep an eye on our services. Simply because Tories have been in power for ever, does not mean they simply coast on the back of the rich and inspirational vote, lurch from crisis to crisis, we must not allow them to get away with running a County with sloppy services.
First Tett and Macpherson must go. They have to show proper respect and moral courage. Plus an immediate Independent Inquiry set up. No more tired old 'we promise will make things better'.
Then proper accountability must be put into place, a Select Committee headed by an experienced Non-Conservative, with Councillors and Independent Co-Opted Members. This Select Committee should be accountable to the whole Council only,

BCC has needed a shake up for over a decade - too much power left with a few officers that have not been held accountable robustly

[quote][p][bold]Darren Hayday[/bold] wrote:
[quote][p][bold]faircuppa[/bold] wrote:
[quote][p][bold]Darren Hayday[/bold] wrote:
Let’s be honest. Bucks is Tory Blue, has always been the same. I've tried to push the point across that the whole political system needs changing. Look at the news recently that Boris is deciding to stand as an MP again in a safe Tory seat. Unless you are one of the few people in this Country that live in marginal seats (local or national) you do not hold any power what so ever. I hope that one day people wake up to this. BCC has always been run by the Conservatives.[/p][/quote]When have you been to a County Council meeting and challenged the underperformance of Children's Services? To be honest?[/p][/quote]I wasn’t aware that there was a problem till this report. How else would I?
It's all very well you putting me on the spot, but why don’t you have the balls to write under your real name instead of hiding under your mother’s skirt?[/p][/quote]I agree with both of you. It is the job of all of us in Bucks to keep an eye on our services. Simply because Tories have been in power for ever, does not mean they simply coast on the back of the rich and inspirational vote, lurch from crisis to crisis, we must not allow them to get away with running a County with sloppy services.
First Tett and Macpherson must go. They have to show proper respect and moral courage. Plus an immediate Independent Inquiry set up. No more tired old 'we promise will make things better'.
Then proper accountability must be put into place, a Select Committee headed by an experienced Non-Conservative, with Councillors and Independent Co-Opted Members. This Select Committee should be accountable to the whole Council only,
BCC has needed a shake up for over a decade - too much power left with a few officers that have not been held accountable robustlymistamina

susie1000 wrote:
What does More to follow mean? Are you waiting for the &quot;white wash" comments from those responsible. Why not try to do some real Journalistic investigation, and report back to your readers.

What does More to follow mean? Are you waiting for the "white wash" comments from those responsible.

[quote][p][bold]susie1000[/bold] wrote:
What does More to follow mean? Are you waiting for the "white wash" comments from those responsible. Why not try to do some real Journalistic investigation, and report back to your readers.[/p][/quote][italic]What does More to follow mean? Are you waiting for the "white wash" comments from those responsible. [/italic]
Yes - spin minimisation and optimism already available at:
http://www.bucksfree
press.co.uk/news/113
98773.Council_leader
__damning_Ofsted_rep
ort_had_been_expecte
d/Undercover Euro Yob

Darren Hayday wrote:
Let’s be honest. Bucks is Tory Blue, has always been the same. I've tried to push the point across that the whole political system needs changing. Look at the news recently that Boris is deciding to stand as an MP again in a safe Tory seat. Unless you are one of the few people in this Country that live in marginal seats (local or national) you do not hold any power what so ever. I hope that one day people wake up to this. BCC has always been run by the Conservatives.

When have you been to a County Council meeting and challenged the underperformance of Children's Services? To be honest?

I wasn’t aware that there was a problem till this report. How else would I?

It's all very well you putting me on the spot, but why don’t you have the balls to write under your real name instead of hiding under your mother’s skirt?

I agree with both of you. It is the job of all of us in Bucks to keep an eye on our services. Simply because Tories have been in power for ever, does not mean they simply coast on the back of the rich and inspirational vote, lurch from crisis to crisis, we must not allow them to get away with running a County with sloppy services.
First Tett and Macpherson must go. They have to show proper respect and moral courage. Plus an immediate Independent Inquiry set up. No more tired old 'we promise will make things better'.
Then proper accountability must be put into place, a Select Committee headed by an experienced Non-Conservative, with Councillors and Independent Co-Opted Members. This Select Committee should be accountable to the whole Council only,

BCC has needed a shake up for over a decade - too much power left with a few officers that have not been held accountable robustly

hear hear!

[quote][p][bold]mistamina[/bold] wrote:
[quote][p][bold]Darren Hayday[/bold] wrote:
[quote][p][bold]faircuppa[/bold] wrote:
[quote][p][bold]Darren Hayday[/bold] wrote:
Let’s be honest. Bucks is Tory Blue, has always been the same. I've tried to push the point across that the whole political system needs changing. Look at the news recently that Boris is deciding to stand as an MP again in a safe Tory seat. Unless you are one of the few people in this Country that live in marginal seats (local or national) you do not hold any power what so ever. I hope that one day people wake up to this. BCC has always been run by the Conservatives.[/p][/quote]When have you been to a County Council meeting and challenged the underperformance of Children's Services? To be honest?[/p][/quote]I wasn’t aware that there was a problem till this report. How else would I?
It's all very well you putting me on the spot, but why don’t you have the balls to write under your real name instead of hiding under your mother’s skirt?[/p][/quote]I agree with both of you. It is the job of all of us in Bucks to keep an eye on our services. Simply because Tories have been in power for ever, does not mean they simply coast on the back of the rich and inspirational vote, lurch from crisis to crisis, we must not allow them to get away with running a County with sloppy services.
First Tett and Macpherson must go. They have to show proper respect and moral courage. Plus an immediate Independent Inquiry set up. No more tired old 'we promise will make things better'.
Then proper accountability must be put into place, a Select Committee headed by an experienced Non-Conservative, with Councillors and Independent Co-Opted Members. This Select Committee should be accountable to the whole Council only,
BCC has needed a shake up for over a decade - too much power left with a few officers that have not been held accountable robustly[/p][/quote]hear hear!Darren Hayday

Darren Hayday wrote:
Let’s be honest. Bucks is Tory Blue, has always been the same. I've tried to push the point across that the whole political system needs changing. Look at the news recently that Boris is deciding to stand as an MP again in a safe Tory seat. Unless you are one of the few people in this Country that live in marginal seats (local or national) you do not hold any power what so ever. I hope that one day people wake up to this. BCC has always been run by the Conservatives.

When have you been to a County Council meeting and challenged the underperformance of Children's Services? To be honest?

I wasn’t aware that there was a problem till this report. How else would I?

It's all very well you putting me on the spot, but why don’t you have the balls to write under your real name instead of hiding under your mother’s skirt?

Then you had better look up your responsibilities as a corporate parent, read the agenda for bcc meetings , look at questions being asked, speak to parents whose children have disabilities. Spend less time in the virtual environment and find out what is happening. Ignorance is no excuse when you are part of the governance of Bucks.

[quote][p][bold]Darren Hayday[/bold] wrote:
[quote][p][bold]faircuppa[/bold] wrote:
[quote][p][bold]Darren Hayday[/bold] wrote:
Let’s be honest. Bucks is Tory Blue, has always been the same. I've tried to push the point across that the whole political system needs changing. Look at the news recently that Boris is deciding to stand as an MP again in a safe Tory seat. Unless you are one of the few people in this Country that live in marginal seats (local or national) you do not hold any power what so ever. I hope that one day people wake up to this. BCC has always been run by the Conservatives.[/p][/quote]When have you been to a County Council meeting and challenged the underperformance of Children's Services? To be honest?[/p][/quote]I wasn’t aware that there was a problem till this report. How else would I?
It's all very well you putting me on the spot, but why don’t you have the balls to write under your real name instead of hiding under your mother’s skirt?[/p][/quote]Then you had better look up your responsibilities as a corporate parent, read the agenda for bcc meetings , look at questions being asked, speak to parents whose children have disabilities. Spend less time in the virtual environment and find out what is happening. Ignorance is no excuse when you are part of the governance of Bucks.faircuppa

Bucks CC Social Services, Lip Service .only,
They were recently asked to investigate something I was seriously concerned about...What Did THEY DO.. Hand it over to an insider who was very close to the person that was being investigated and the person and all parties involved at this establishment were well known by the " so called investigator" they all knew z"the person"
I was told an independent investigator would be used.
SHAMEFUL ON YOU BUCKS SOCIAL SERVICES.YOU DISGUST ME.
INADEQUATE........th
ey mean INCAPABLE !!!!!!
Hitandrun

Bucks CC Social Services, Lip Service .only,
They were recently asked to investigate something I was seriously concerned about...What Did THEY DO.. Hand it over to an insider who was very close to the person that was being investigated and the person and all parties involved at this establishment were well known by the " so called investigator" they all knew z"the person"
I was told an independent investigator would be used.
SHAMEFUL ON YOU BUCKS SOCIAL SERVICES.YOU DISGUST ME.
INADEQUATE........th
ey mean INCAPABLE !!!!!!
HitandrunToklok58

Darren Hayday wrote:
Let’s be honest. Bucks is Tory Blue, has always been the same. I've tried to push the point across that the whole political system needs changing. Look at the news recently that Boris is deciding to stand as an MP again in a safe Tory seat. Unless you are one of the few people in this Country that live in marginal seats (local or national) you do not hold any power what so ever. I hope that one day people wake up to this. BCC has always been run by the Conservatives.

When have you been to a County Council meeting and challenged the underperformance of Children's Services? To be honest?

Why do people vote them in?

[quote][p][bold]faircuppa[/bold] wrote:
[quote][p][bold]Darren Hayday[/bold] wrote:
Let’s be honest. Bucks is Tory Blue, has always been the same. I've tried to push the point across that the whole political system needs changing. Look at the news recently that Boris is deciding to stand as an MP again in a safe Tory seat. Unless you are one of the few people in this Country that live in marginal seats (local or national) you do not hold any power what so ever. I hope that one day people wake up to this. BCC has always been run by the Conservatives.[/p][/quote]When have you been to a County Council meeting and challenged the underperformance of Children's Services? To be honest?[/p][/quote]Why do people vote them in?Undercover Euro Yob

Benedicta wrote:
This shameful and shaming Report makes it clear that children in Buckinghamshire, one of the most affluent counties in the UK, are simply not safe. The decent thing for the responsible politicians to do would be to resign. Along with the officers who have allowed poor practice to flourish. Children deserve better.

First Tett and Macpherson must go. They have to show proper respect and moral courage. Plus an immediate Independent Inquiry set up. No more tired old 'we promise will make things better'.
Then proper accountability must be put into place, a Select Committee headed by an experienced Non-Conservative, with Councillors and Independent Co-Opted Members. This Select Committee should be accountable to the whole Council only,

This will never happen - the cabinet member responsible for education is the worst of the lot - Mike Appleyard has been the governor of a school placed in special measures and he is still governor of another local school as well as being responsible for education in the county. If he did not go then it would be absurd for other people to do so - we are mired in a swamp of complacency and double think, where it is possible for Mike Appleyard to say, less than six months ago, that:
‘We’re already doing a great deal of very good work and the committee’s report focuses our attention on areas where we can make the transition from 'very good' to 'better'’.
At a meeting to discuss BCC’s going through the motions of looking at under-achievement by the less well-off after the Council had been named individually for the poor service it gives to less well-off children.

Darren - why don’t youstand as an Independent again and say you will either: advocate the abolition of the 11+ or: not object to its abolition?

Or do you support it as well?

(If so then why?)

[quote][p][bold]Benedicta[/bold] wrote:
This shameful and shaming Report makes it clear that children in Buckinghamshire, one of the most affluent counties in the UK, are simply not safe. The decent thing for the responsible politicians to do would be to resign. Along with the officers who have allowed poor practice to flourish. Children deserve better.[/p][/quote][italic] First Tett and Macpherson must go. They have to show proper respect and moral courage. Plus an immediate Independent Inquiry set up. No more tired old 'we promise will make things better'.
Then proper accountability must be put into place, a Select Committee headed by an experienced Non-Conservative, with Councillors and Independent Co-Opted Members. This Select Committee should be accountable to the whole Council only,
[/italic]
This will never happen - the cabinet member responsible for education is the worst of the lot - Mike Appleyard has been the governor of a school placed in special measures and he is still governor of another local school as well as being responsible for education in the county. If he did not go then it would be absurd for other people to do so - we are mired in a swamp of complacency and double think, where it is possible for Mike Appleyard to say, less than six months ago, that:
‘We’re already doing a great deal of very good work and the committee’s report focuses our attention on areas where we can make the transition from 'very good' to 'better'’.
At a meeting to discuss BCC’s going through the motions of looking at under-achievement by the less well-off after the Council had been named individually for the poor service it gives to less well-off children.
Darren - why don’t [italic]you[/italic]stand as an Independent again and say you will either: advocate the abolition of the 11+ or: not object to its abolition?
Or do you support it as well?
(If so then why?)Undercover Euro Yob

Darren Hayday wrote:
Let’s be honest. Bucks is Tory Blue, has always been the same. I've tried to push the point across that the whole political system needs changing. Look at the news recently that Boris is deciding to stand as an MP again in a safe Tory seat. Unless you are one of the few people in this Country that live in marginal seats (local or national) you do not hold any power what so ever. I hope that one day people wake up to this. BCC has always been run by the Conservatives.

When have you been to a County Council meeting and challenged the underperformance of Children's Services? To be honest?

I wasn’t aware that there was a problem till this report. How else would I?

It's all very well you putting me on the spot, but why don’t you have the balls to write under your real name instead of hiding under your mother’s skirt?

Then you had better look up your responsibilities as a corporate parent, read the agenda for bcc meetings , look at questions being asked, speak to parents whose children have disabilities. Spend less time in the virtual environment and find out what is happening. Ignorance is no excuse when you are part of the governance of Bucks.

Spot on Faircuppa.
It really is time ALL Councillors (mostly Tory & Ukip, it must be admitted) started taking their roles seriously, start monitoring processes and demanding evidence based proof that the Council is delivering what we pay for.
''I did not know, Gov'' is never an acceptable answer.

[quote][p][bold]faircuppa[/bold] wrote:
[quote][p][bold]Darren Hayday[/bold] wrote:
[quote][p][bold]faircuppa[/bold] wrote:
[quote][p][bold]Darren Hayday[/bold] wrote:
Let’s be honest. Bucks is Tory Blue, has always been the same. I've tried to push the point across that the whole political system needs changing. Look at the news recently that Boris is deciding to stand as an MP again in a safe Tory seat. Unless you are one of the few people in this Country that live in marginal seats (local or national) you do not hold any power what so ever. I hope that one day people wake up to this. BCC has always been run by the Conservatives.[/p][/quote]When have you been to a County Council meeting and challenged the underperformance of Children's Services? To be honest?[/p][/quote]I wasn’t aware that there was a problem till this report. How else would I?
It's all very well you putting me on the spot, but why don’t you have the balls to write under your real name instead of hiding under your mother’s skirt?[/p][/quote]Then you had better look up your responsibilities as a corporate parent, read the agenda for bcc meetings , look at questions being asked, speak to parents whose children have disabilities. Spend less time in the virtual environment and find out what is happening. Ignorance is no excuse when you are part of the governance of Bucks.[/p][/quote]Spot on Faircuppa.
It really is time ALL Councillors (mostly Tory & Ukip, it must be admitted) started taking their roles seriously, start monitoring processes and demanding evidence based proof that the Council is delivering what we pay for.
''I did not know, Gov'' is never an acceptable answer.mistamina

Benedicta wrote:
This shameful and shaming Report makes it clear that children in Buckinghamshire, one of the most affluent counties in the UK, are simply not safe. The decent thing for the responsible politicians to do would be to resign. Along with the officers who have allowed poor practice to flourish. Children deserve better.

First Tett and Macpherson must go. They have to show proper respect and moral courage. Plus an immediate Independent Inquiry set up. No more tired old 'we promise will make things better'.
Then proper accountability must be put into place, a Select Committee headed by an experienced Non-Conservative, with Councillors and Independent Co-Opted Members. This Select Committee should be accountable to the whole Council only,

This will never happen - the cabinet member responsible for education is the worst of the lot - Mike Appleyard has been the governor of a school placed in special measures and he is still governor of another local school as well as being responsible for education in the county. If he did not go then it would be absurd for other people to do so - we are mired in a swamp of complacency and double think, where it is possible for Mike Appleyard to say, less than six months ago, that:
‘We’re already doing a great deal of very good work and the committee’s report focuses our attention on areas where we can make the transition from 'very good' to 'better'’.
At a meeting to discuss BCC’s going through the motions of looking at under-achievement by the less well-off after the Council had been named individually for the poor service it gives to less well-off children.

Darren - why don’t youstand as an Independent again and say you will either: advocate the abolition of the 11+ or: not object to its abolition?

Or do you support it as well?

(If so then why?)

Darren - this is a good question. Will you advocate the abolition of the 11+ or object to it's abolition?

PS> ''Why fix what ain't broke' is not an adequate answer. 80% of our children cannot be left in inferior and poorer schools.

[quote][p][bold]Undercover Euro Yob[/bold] wrote:
[quote][p][bold]Benedicta[/bold] wrote:
This shameful and shaming Report makes it clear that children in Buckinghamshire, one of the most affluent counties in the UK, are simply not safe. The decent thing for the responsible politicians to do would be to resign. Along with the officers who have allowed poor practice to flourish. Children deserve better.[/p][/quote][italic] First Tett and Macpherson must go. They have to show proper respect and moral courage. Plus an immediate Independent Inquiry set up. No more tired old 'we promise will make things better'.
Then proper accountability must be put into place, a Select Committee headed by an experienced Non-Conservative, with Councillors and Independent Co-Opted Members. This Select Committee should be accountable to the whole Council only,
[/italic]
This will never happen - the cabinet member responsible for education is the worst of the lot - Mike Appleyard has been the governor of a school placed in special measures and he is still governor of another local school as well as being responsible for education in the county. If he did not go then it would be absurd for other people to do so - we are mired in a swamp of complacency and double think, where it is possible for Mike Appleyard to say, less than six months ago, that:
‘We’re already doing a great deal of very good work and the committee’s report focuses our attention on areas where we can make the transition from 'very good' to 'better'’.
At a meeting to discuss BCC’s going through the motions of looking at under-achievement by the less well-off after the Council had been named individually for the poor service it gives to less well-off children.
Darren - why don’t [italic]you[/italic]stand as an Independent again and say you will either: advocate the abolition of the 11+ or: not object to its abolition?
Or do you support it as well?
(If so then why?)[/p][/quote]Darren - this is a good question. Will you advocate the abolition of the 11+ or object to it's abolition?
PS> ''Why fix what ain't broke' is not an adequate answer. 80% of our children cannot be left in inferior and poorer schools.mistamina